Laura

The Greek word laura is
employed by writers from the end of the fifth century to
distinguish the monasteries of Palestine of the semi-eremitical
type. The word signifies a narrow way or passage, and in later
times the quarter of a town. We find it used in Alexandria for the
different portions of the city grouped around the principal
churches; and this latter sense of the word is in conformity with
what we know of the Palestine laura, which was a group of
hermitages surrounding a church.

Although the term laura has
been almost exclusively used with regard to Palestine, the type of
monastery which it designated existed, not only there, but in
Syria and Mesopotamia; in Gaul; in Italy; and among the Celtic
monks. The type of life led therein might be described as
something midway between purely eremitical inaugurated by St. Paul
the first hermit- and purely cenobitical life. The monk lived
alone though depended on a superior, and was bound only to the
common life on Saturdays and Sundays, when all met in church for
the solemn Eucharistic Liturgy. This central church was the origin
of what was afterwards called the coenobium or house of the
imperfect, or of "children". There the future solitary
was to pass the time of his probation, and to it he might have to
return if he had not the strength for the full rigour of the
solitary life. The laura of palestine were originated by St.
Chariton, who died about 350. He founded the laura of Pharan, to
the northeast of Jerusalem and that of Douka, northeast of
Jericho. But most of the lauras in the vicinity of Jerusalem owed
their existence to a Cappadocian named Sabas. In 483 he founded
the monastery which still bears his name, Mar Saba. It stands on
the west bank of Cedron and was once known as the Great Laura. We
know that in 814 the Laura of Pharan was still flourishing, and it
appears that on Mount Athos this type of life was followed till
late in the tenth century. It gave way, however, to the cenobitic,
and no monastery now extant can be said really to resemble the
ancient lauras.